Worth It! Buzzfeed has a web series called "Worth It." The show is about a couple of guys who try similar foods, goods, and services at drastically different price points (e.g., $24 Korean BBQ vs $346 Korean BBQ, $399 Suit vs $7,900 Suit, $15 Haircut vs. $500 Haircut). The show is really about subjective value. Fountain Day School's value for parents is unparalleled because the moral value of the school is unquestionable. And that's because the owners/administrators value new experiences, safety, and healthy meals for the kids over fancy buildings and over-bloated bank accounts for the school. My daughter has been at FDS for over a year. Every week has a new theme. Dinosaur week? Bring on live reptiles. Farm week? Bring on the farm animals. Holidays? Bring on the apt celebrations and characters. The school does not skimp on experiences and spares no expenses to ensure the kids are mesmerized each day. Swimming 4 times a week. Daily lunches from Whole Foods. A solid security system. What does it all mean? Mom and dad don't have to worry. The campus is not fancy. Other than the swimming pool with a retractable roof for year-round swimming, the school is not bedazzled in any way. I suppose the school could have spent the tuition on making the place look shiny and new. But gratefully, they choose to spend generously on giving the kids the most diverse and wonderful experiences every day. The aids, teachers, administrators, and the owners wholeheartedly stand in the place of the parents. I know that from the time I drop her off to the time when mom picks her up, her day will be filled with love, attention, discipline, play, music, and new experiences. (And of course, cookies from Ms. Evelyn on her way out!) I can't fathom a more valuable 2nd home for my child. Definitely Worth It! read more

Fountain Day School is perfection for preschool. The school has the most amazing teachers and administrators. It is a family run business in literally every way. Most of the teachers and administration has been with the school for at least 10-20 years, which says a lot. The teachers are incredible, loving, and thoughtful about ensuring the children are reaching age appropriate milestones. Our daughter was thoroughly academically prepared for Kindergarten when she graduated. The school also attracts the most wonderful community of families, and we have made incredible friends. Finally, the school provides the children healthy lunches and year round (included) swim lessons. I don't haven enough positive things to say about it. read more

Amazing teachers and staff. Both of my kids loved their years at FDS. All around best preschool in town.

My nephew (4) and niece (2) both go here for pre-k! They love the campus, teachers and other kids! They get real one on one time with the teachers and learn all kinds of wonderful skills that are impossible to teach if not in a classroom with peers. They have a wonderful pool and they teach them how to swim from a very young age. They also have a pet rabbit and turtle that the kids love! Just a wonderful place to send your kids for their first educational experience! read more

Fountain Day School is literally the best place for kids needing daycare. Offering to teach them how to swim, feeding them lunch and the incredibly thoughtful and meaningful relationships we developed with the staff their makes me yearn for those days to continue forever. If they offered elementary, middle and high school- my baby would still be there until he graduated! I miss seeing Ms. Evelyn everyday!!!! The environment there is of love and care. I could't have dreamt of a better place to send my child. Thank you so much Fountain Day and of course the incomparable, Ms. Evelyn! and of course Miss Mary!! We miss you!! read more

I loved this preschool so much! My daughter would try food she'd never try with me and the lunches where much better than anything I could make. The staff is so lovely and the fact that your child will how to swim puts this school on another level compared to others. My daughter is now 7 and still talks about how much she loved this school. We no longer live close to the school so I'm so sad I can't take my son there now. The stress of teaching him how to swim and find a school again is so hard. I vote Fountain Day make more locations lol! read more

top stars for everything Fountainday offers- the best teachers, staff, catered lunches and all year swim lessons!

We feel so lucky to have our 3 year old daughter in her first year at FDS. She is absolutely loving it. The faculty has been around for many years & they are patient and kind with the children. It's really a warm & loving community. I couldn't be happier with our decision to send our daughter here. read more

I just wanted to up date my review because we spent six years at the school with both children attending. I visited more preschools than for MBA schools (kind of sad, I know), and I was lucky that I found this one. Not only was the school so wonderful in terms of the administration, teachers and curriculum, but also the families were amazing. We are still friends with many of them after we have left. I describe the school as magical. For a year, I kept a voicemail from the school on the phone. The truck that was bringing the camels to school broke down on the freeway and was running late. Um, what other school do you get a ride a camel with your child? Ok, so they did that once, but it was fun. In addition, we still go back fro swim lessons post graduation. My kids swim better than me (and my husband). I could go on and on, but you get the idea. You will not regret sending your kids here. read more

This review is long overdue. My oldest son just graduated from FDS and my little boy is now in the three year old class. I knew from the beginning that this is the school I want to send my kids. I had friends that had highly recommended the school and once we got in, I realized why. They have the most wonderful teachers and staff. The best swim program. They pottytrain your child and provide lunches from Whole Foods. Not only have they had a great influence on my kids socially and emotionally, they have helped me on how to fix my behavior and treat certain situations. I honestly didnt realized what a gem this school is, until the pandemic hit. The school reopened recently and I sent my kids back as soon as I heard the great news. I am sooooo impressed by the level of precautions the school has taken. The classrooms are much smaller and the kids are all in their own pods the entire time. The level of communication the school has had with us and their transparency has been wonderful. Thank you Fountain Day School. read more

We simply love Fountain Day School. Not sure why a couple of negative reviews but each to their own. Here's our experience.... from day 1 our son took to the school. His teachers Ms. Catherine and Ms. Arely are fantastic. The love they have for all the kids is perfect. They balance love, teaching and a little discipline (3 year old(s) need guidance). The activities and learning contribute to the molding of our son we promote at home. We drop our son off in the morning and know when we pick him up he'll be smiling. Maybe it's because he gets a great lunch from WholeFoods every day. Now Mr. Andrew, he runs the school. It's that simple. We appreciate all that he does. We love how he manages everything. There are over 100 kids at the school so it's comforting to know he's there at the top keeping an eye on everything. I'm certain all parents are like me and appreciate it. Mr. Dave at the desk does a wonderful job managing the day to day logistics of people flow. We recommend this school to all. My only negative is it makes me a little envious that I didn't have this experience as a kid. read more

I recently read the Yelp reviews of Fountain Day School, and I felt it necessary to counter some of the negative views. My two 3 year-old grandchildren, who are cousins, recently started there. We see a healthy environment, qualified and enthusiastic teachers, and actively involved parents. I did not see the rigidity that some reviews spoke of - in fact, I saw a lot of flexibility and accommodation; kids this age certainly need that. We also see that our kids are involved and happy, and already relating positively to the school's environment. I cannot speak for the school's capabilities in addressing certain special needs, but I can say that Andrew worked very hard with the children's parents to place them optimally, and I can also say that the teachers are working with our single-parent daughter and her child on the special needs of that situation. I think the fact that Fountain always has a waiting list says a lot about how happy the parents are. I also talked with parents, and a grandparent, at the recent art show day, and their view are similarly positive. read more

This is honestly the best preschool in Los Angeles. My son graduated last year and I cannot say enough nice things, not to mention, he was so prepared for Kindergarten. Everyone who works at this school is so kind and are like extended family. It is M-F, 8-5 and they teach swimming, do potty training and Whole Foods caters the lunch. The curated content for the kids is another level, so many different ways to learn and performances that help the kids with their confidence. It is a truly wonderful school that has been around since 1958. They are also wonderful about helping explain the Kindergarten process. My son loved the school, we loved the school and some of the parents are our closest friends. This is a wonderful, wonderful place. read more

If you have the opportunity to send your child to Fountain Day School go for it. My daughter is in her final year here & it's hard to imagine saying goodbye next year. My 4 year old looks forward to going to school everyday. She has had wonderful teachers each year and has made so many amazing friends. She has developed into a smart, kind, curious & happy kid. This school makes learning fun. She gets daily opportunities to be creative & is proud to show us all of her work. Fountain Day School is diverse which is important to us. They celebrate all backgrounds and their holidays. Lunch is made by a parent chef daily and the kids & teachers love it. On top of all of this this they have the most amazing pool with a solar paneled retractable roof that they can open in the summer. The kids get swim lessons year round. Our daughter learned to swim here & Ms Mary who owns the school spent so much time working with her in the water to instill confidence & focus. We are so grateful to be a part of this incredibly special community. read more

As your child enters the age of forming tendencies and character that will serve them for a life time, IT'S CRITICAL that you as a parent get them within the BEST educational hands. You've only got the one chance to get it right. FOUNTAIN DAY SHOOL is just that! Through FOUNTAIN DAY SCHOOL (FDS), our son is a confident and engaging contributor to society. Yelp's rating of 5 star suggests "Woohoo! As good as it gets!". That pretty much describes the past 3 years at FDS for not only our son but for us as parents. Every day i spend 30-40 minutes catching up with parents after school as our children play under the watchful eye of attentive and nurturing teachers. Of all the educational institutions ( high school, university, performing arts, Real estate schools) i've attended in London, Sydney, Auckland (New Zealand) and here in The US, NOTHING has exceeded the experience my son has had at Fountain Day School (FDS). 3 years ago we attended a play date. What strikes you first is the expansive and colorful campus. who knew it was there? The enclosed pool is a stand out within the shrine to education. Where the hell was this when I was growing up in New Zealand? Julian was still having morning naps at the designated play date time. He had a minor melt down- Mr Andrew said 'that's fine, set up another time so we can get to know the true Julian." We did and Julian was just fine. We met the owner, Ms Mary that day. What a dedicated, inspiring and strong woman she is- the type of personality to confidently helm ANY institution. I can't begin to express my love and admiration for this woman. Incidentally, Ms Mary heads up the swim program which runs year round. The children love her as do the parents. Julian is a competent swimmer thanks to FDS. Julian's first year (and every year since) was the best educational experience i've seen. Daily art tasks, potty training, exercise, letters of the week, interaction with school pets,monthly performances, class parties.... Needless to say, as a parent you are encouraged to dive in head first and be a part of this 'ride'. My wife and I count the many parents of Julian's first year (and the subsequent years) as our very dearest and best friends. We are nearing the end of Julian's 3rd year at this remarkable school and my wife and I, like ALL the other parents, are dreading 'breaking up the band'. Having said that, we've all agreed to meet frequently. These are people I will NEVER exclude from my life. They have made my son's time here at FDS an absolute joy. Mr Andrew has provided invaluable evening discussions regarding schools, both private and public. He and expert guest speakers have allowed us to tread through the land mine of school selection. The teachers are like family and there's not one who drops the educational ball. FDS parents again and again comment on how lucky we all are. I thank God (and Mr Andrew!) we were able to have that second play date for FDS child selection back in 2013. How lucky it all was... ...In your search for a school of excellence, nurturing and love, I sincerely hope you're equally as lucky. read more

I can't help but agree with the other comment about Andrew the bouncer. First, you have to submit an application. He wants to see what your background, employment and salary is like. If you pass, there is the dreaded playdate, where you have to let him watch your child. Which, given the situation, is really scary, all things considered. It's a shame that the school was founded by a really nice family to help working families and single moms, but they employ this individual gatekeeper who has no family or children himself. He is belittling, smug, and judgmental. Thank goodness there are many mediums in which to judge an institution, thanks to the internet. So, not only do we have word of mouth - which is very powerful in a small community like West Hollywood, but we have things such as Yelp, to let all the world know what is really going on. This day in age, people should really watch how they treat others, because they may be out of a job. Another thing, assigning 2 & 3 year olds have homework after being in school all day.....you are only asking for your children to be burnt out and depressed by the time they hit high school. Kids are overwhelmed, overworked, overstimulated and pushed when they are younger and by the time they hit college they are not interested and fail miserably. Be aware of a preschool that takes their "academics" seriously. I had to put 1 star for this review to make it. But it would have remained empty if I could have done so. read more

We can't say enough about Fountain Day, we feel incredibly lucky to have gotten in. We looked at 8 schools and this was by far our favorite. The teachers are wonderful, along with the office staff. My daughter looks forward to school every day and she is learning at a very quick rate. This is a more structured environment which is what we wanted, so if you are looking for a strictly play based school this may not be a fit. The swim program is incredible, and is such an added bonus. I also like that there were no "surprise" fees which friends are other schools have been experiencing. They promote parent involvement, and their is a sense of community. 5 stars all the way!! read more

If I could give this school more then 5 stars I would. My daughter has gone here for 2 years and will be continuing here as long as they will keep her. The progress that I have seen in her learning ability is amazing. The owners, staff and teachers are all amazing and friendly, they treat you as family and are always there to help if you have any concerns or questions. I speak with pride when I say my daughter goes to Fountain Day School! read more

Looking for a preschool in Los Angeles is really stressful for working, middle-class parents! We were already stretched financially, and being that we were BOTH working, we needed to find a place that would accommodate our long hours and our skinny wallets. Finding Fountain Day School was like hitting the jackpot!! Not only does Fountain Day School have a wonderful swim program, provide fresh snacks and lunches from Whole Foods, employ loving, wonderful teachers who connect with and genuinely love children, the school is also a non-profit that provides financial aid to families who can't quite make ends meet!! CAN IT GET ANY BETTER?!?! Hard to believe, but it does get better!! The parents are always welcome in the classrooms and are invited to be guest readers. The school hosts amazing shows where the children get to showcase their hard work (i.e. singing, dancing, art, swimming, skits, etc.). The children are potty trained at school. There is diversity throughout the school; children coming from different socio-economic backgrounds, various language backgrounds, different religions, and mixed and modern families. This school fosters a strong sense of community by encouraging parents to get together for social outings, and contribute whatever talents or skills they may have for helping to set up and run the various shows and celebrations throughout the year. It is a good feeling to know that parents get to take an active role in supporting the staff and administrators. The educational experience of our children becomes a "community" effort. My son loves this school so much, it is hard to pull him away in the afternoons. And ultimately, that's what really matters!! He is learning not just numbers, letters, colors, and songs, but he is also learning how to be a good friend in an environment that nurtures, loves and accepts these children for who they are. The heart and soul of this school is all about uplifting the community. Very few places in Los Angeles feel like "home" and very few places make you feel like you're a loved member of a bigger family. But I certainly found that at Fountain Day! read more

We have had a wonderful time with our two children. The academics are strong and the teachers are very caring. Many have become good family friends. We rest easy knowing our children are learning the fundamentals, but more importantly developing a love of learning. The parents are very active and support the staff and administrators. It really is like a big family and we feel fortunate to be part of it. read more

Our daughter spent three unforgettable years at FDS. She came out out a couple of years ahead of her peers while having the time of her life, loving ever teacher she had - and swimming like a fish to top it off. As far as I know, that was the experience of every one of her friends. read more

This is a really great preschool. We have two children at the school: our oldest is in her third year; our youngest, his first. We love it. Both the kids love it. The school has a small kindergarten, but most of the kids are in the three-year program for 2, 3, and 4-year olds. Classes are divided by age, each age has several sections, and each section has two teachers. There is a consistent and well-considered structure to the day. The structure gradually changes as the kids mature and have shorter naps and longer concentration spans. There are monthly themes. All the kids learn about and do art relating to the theme but they engage the material in different ways depending on their age. They have frequent school-wide events that tie each unit together: the animal month this summer had an event with tropical birds, another with reptiles, and a third with a truck full of exhibits from the Long Beach aquarium. The school has an extensive curriculum. It is a gentle and age-appropriate curriculum, but nonetheless it is a world away from a preschool/daycare that is mostly free play. They play, but the kids are also learning a lot: swimming; art; pre-reading and writing; substantive content about seasons, animals, other countries, etc. The owners, staff, and teachers are all great. All of my children's teachers have had degrees in early childhood education. Several of the teachers have grade-school teaching credentials and/or Master's degrees in education. A huge asset of the school is Mr. Andrew, the Director, who receives some harsh and unfair criticism in one of the reviews below - since he does the tours and is the point-person for admissions he is an easy target for parents that are angry about not being admitted. Like the owners and the office staff, Mr. Andrew knows every child at the school. He checks in with the parents often to make sure the families are happy. He makes himself constantly available to any parent who wants to talk to him (his desk is the first one you see when you walk in the door of the school). And he takes parent concerns seriously and does everything in his power to make things as you would like them to be. What more can you ask of a school administrator than that he knows your child, is accessible to you, takes your concerns seriously, and follows through when he says he will do something? The families come from a broad and diverse slice of Los Angeles. There are many international families and many bilingual kids. read more

It's been 12 years since my son finished 3 years at Fountain Day School. He's now an entering Freshman at Columbia in NYC. To this day, I see the positive influence those early years at Fountain Day School gave my son, an adoptee at 3 from Foster Care. After my first two weeks as a new parent I was exhausted and knew I needed to get my new son into pre school for his sake and to give myself a chance to catch my breath. A parent at the park suggested Fountain Day School. They were almost done with spring term and about to start summer but they accepted him. By the end of that summer he not only learned to swim but led the show. By end of Kindergarten my little boy was Co-Valedictorian. What do I attribute this to? A structured, loving, personal environment which the founders started and their daughters continued. A safe place where the kids learn early that, while important, they are not the center of the universe and that they must learn to wait their turn, stand in line, and be kind. My son flourished there, he made friends at 3 who are still his friends 15 years later. The hours they were open allowed me to work full time e and still be able to drop him off and pick him up after work. They served him food from Whole Foods, and he developed a decent love for veggies from that. He danced and sang and read and learned and swam. And he took from there an advantage that helped carry him all through the next 12 years and now into Ivy League. I will ever be grateful to Andrew. Miss Mary, and all the teachers from Fountain Day, for the start they helped me give my son. read more

Our daughter started Fountain Day School when she was 2 years old. (My husband and nephew also attended the preschool.) My family's experience with Fountain Day has been nothing short of wonderful. They have treated us like family. The school's grounds are amazing. (The school has an enclosed pool that is open year round!) The teachers are extremely caring and knowledgeable. They have provided our daughter with a foundation in math, spelling, and reading, while at the same time attending to her emotional and developmental needs as a child. Our daughter has adored every one of them! The school's administration (including Ms. Mary and Mr. Andrew) are also very involved with the children and truly care about their individual needs. Our daughter has truly blossomed at this school and she couldn't be happier. The kids are great, the parents, teachers and administration are fantastic, and she is very happy there. She is graduating this summer, and she and I will miss this school terribly. read more

I think it's important perspective parents know this is not a play-based preschool. While they do have free play blocs during the day, even the 2 year olds have a very structured day and overly disciplinarian teachers. If they are not willing to sit for 30 minutes of storytime, or quietly do 'art' activities when dictated your kid is in trouble (we're talking 2 year olds here!). And instead of judging themselves too rigid and harsh, they will start telling you there is something wrong with your kid; ADD, ADHD, Aspergers etc., pretty serious diagnosis to throw around without any kind of expertise whatsoever. Don't be fooled by the glossy presentation - this place is great if you want your child taught in an Eastern European fashion - yes, they'll know their abc's and be potty trained but they'll never get the freedom and joy of being two back. read more

Our child has been attending FDS for the past three years and we love it. The sense of community at this school is very strong and wonderfully multi cultural. This is a warm, loving environment for children. They borrow from lots of schools of education and create a wonderful atmosphere for learning and growth. read more

My daughter began at Fountain Day School this September 2014, and I am already incredibly happy with the school and the staff. I am extremely impressed with the security - there is a fingerprint recognition system for parents to drop off and collect their child/children. I have found the staff to be extremely helpful and welcoming, particularly Ms Ranum, Ms Mary and the two lovely ladies who teach my daughter's small class. There are less than ten in her class, so each child gets an excellent level of attention. When my child started experiencing separation anxiety, the school were thoughtful enough to telephone me to let me know that she had settled after we had left her. Ms Ranum always recognises my daughter and refers to her by name - despite not even being my daughter's teacher. Among the many aspects that have particularly impressed me are that my two year old participates in cooking class and brought home cookies today. Her eating has improved tremedously since starting the school, and she has already learnt to clear her plate after lunch. In addition to the exemplary swim programe (the praise is justified), the children are given sports training (physical education) where a trainer coaches them to skip, catch and throw balls, play hockey and most impressively - clean up. They have excellent playground facilities, some areas are shaded, which is much needed in the California heat. There are wonderful animals at the school and in each of the classroms, including fish, birds, turtles and a giant tortoise. My daughter has produced wonderful art work, she can now sing the alphabet on her own, her counting and color distinction have already improved. Most delightfully, she is talking about the other children in her class and the two teachers she adores... and this, in two weeks. Parents are able to see private pictures posted online of their class each week. Contrary to one of the negative reviews, I have not found the school to be overtly regimented in any way whatsoever. I was educated at private school in England, and this school is night and day from anything I ever experienced. The atmosphere and ambience are more reminiscent of a children's camp at a luxury vacation resort - the only differences being that a child's time at Fountain is productive and they are part of a recognisable group of teachers and children. Fountain is traditional and perhaps that parent would be better suited to a Montessori or Waldorf school. Fountain has been the perfect fit for my daughter. My daughter is being stimulated and the teachers are helping her to explore her potential. So far I have not encountered anything negative and I'm very excited for the year ahead. My daughter is extremely happy at Fountain Day School. I recommended the school to my next door neighbor and they have also been thrilled with the school. read more

I LOVE LOVE LOVE FDS!!! The teachers are nice, welcoming and nurturing and kids learn a lot. The director, Mr. Andrew is the best! The campus is beautiful and you can't beat the swimming pool!! read more

My daughter is now in her third year at Fountain Day. The initial elements which drew us to the school were the loving environment, campus amenities, spectacular teachers, diverse activities, awesome SWIM program with their own pool, loving presence of male role models, extensive hours to accommodate working parents and a community of interesting, involved and dynamic parents. All of these aspects have created a great first school experience. The campus is unlike an other I have seen. There are five separate play yards, each specially created to support the correct developmental abilities of the various ages. They also have a wonderfully interactive garden, swim pavilion, bright and inspiring classrooms and a central courtyard where the entire school can come together. I simply can't believe how many special activities, presentations and performances the kids get to experience. The shows they put on (not just at the Holidays) are fun and adorable. As a parent, the amount of decisions and choices you must make for your child can be overwhelming and are seemingly never ending. The choice of child care and pre-school can be one of the most important during this impressionable period. We are fortunate in this city to have options that run the gamut from co-ops for a few hours a week to full time programs. The decision of where to enroll your child is a highly personal one and forces a parent to evaluate many of their core values. If a full time program is right for you I would highly recommend Fountain Day. Come take a look for yourself during one of the weekly tours. read more

I remember trolling the Internet to read each and every review out there on preschools we were considering and now that I am on the other side, I feel the need to share my experience at FDS. Let me say first that I was not asked to complete a review by anyone. I have been speaking with friends who are considering FDS and thought I would share my experience with all because I feel most people who take the time to complete reviews are people who are generally unhappy with their experience. In our situation nothing could be further from the truth. We have been more than happy with our decision to come to FDS. I am a stay-at-home mother with 3 children. My son started FDS when he was 2 1/2. He is now in a 4 year old class and my daughter will be starting in September in a 2 year old class. We were thrilled to get an offer to enroll at FDS because we felt like it was such a warm, family-friendly school that had a nice balance of play, art and academics. We simply loved our tour given by Mr. Andrew. I could tell he truly enjoyed his job and really knew all the children well. Many of them came up to him on our tour and the way he interacted with the children spoke volumes to me. My son gets a calendar that outlines the school-wide activities to be held at FDS each month in addition to the lunch menu catered by Whole Foods. This school puts so much effort into bringing in interesting programs for the children, such as puppet shows, petting zoos, cultural dancers, magic shows, carnival and farm days, and so much more. My favorite event was at an art gallery down the street from the school where all the kids' art work was displayed (3 pieces of art per child). The school provided food and live music and my son was thrilled to show off some of his artwork that was there. In addition to the school-wide activities, he swims twice a week and every day in the summer. What kid wouldn't love to do that?!? FDS also has a sports coach who works with each class once a week to introduce sports to the children. Coach Jim is loved by my son! In addition to all the activities at the school, I feel that FDS is doing a great job of preparing my son for kindergarten. I guess time will tell if my hunch is correct but considering where many of the older kids get placed at various schools around town, I believe the teachers and administration are doing a lot of things right. My son can recognize all the letters in the alphabet and can do a pretty good job of naming the letter that a word starts with. Both of his teachers in his 3 year old class had a masters degree -- impressive! Now that he has moved up to the 4 year old class it is my understanding that they will learn to write, have homework from time-to-time and go on field trips. My son is eager to go to school every day and does not want to go when I come to pick him up around 3:30/4. I don't blame him because our home can't compare to everything offered on the school's campus. There is a large tortoise named Chuck that the children enjoy, in addition to birds and rabbits. Each classroom also has an animal that they are responsible for. My son's 3 year old class had a tank full of colorful fish. The children take turns tending to a garden and there are plenty of play structures for them to climb on, scooters to ride and space to run around. I would highly recommend this school to families looking for a preschool that strikes a nice balance between work and play and offers all the "extras". In addition, I feel it is one of the most convenient schools in town. By that I mean there is a public parking lot adjacent to the school, so parking is really never a problem unless there is a school-wide activity. Consider the parking situation when you tour schools. In addition, I love the flexibility with regard to when I can drop my child off in the morning (anytime between 8 and when the lesson plan for the day begins at approx. 9:30am) and when I can pick him up in the afternoon (before nap at 1pm or anytime after nap from 3 until close at 5pm). Living in LA is impossible to get anywhere on time and traffic is so hard to gauge. I love the fact that I can pick him up when it works with my schedule. Lastly, having his food prepared for him by Whole Foods saves a huge amount of time, hassle and headache for us. Everyone eats the same meal and snacks every day. It is a HUGE bonus and one less thing for us to worry about each morning as we get out the door. We feel so lucky to be a part of FDS. read more

I have been doing airbrush tattoos and face painting on FDS special events for the last 3 years. The facility are amazing and the staff really caring. I was surprise to see the pool and was informed of the swimming program. Cool! read more

I am generally not a fan of "reviews" on the internet, because usually the only people who spend time to write and post reviews are the ones who are unhappy with whatever service or product they got and have an axe to grind, and the happy people are generally just happy to be happy and don't bother, so the results are usually more than a little skewed. Obviously I cannot speak for the reviews of others on this site, but we recently started two of our kids at FDS and we are immediately impressed on multiple levels. Our kids are very active and at an age (almost 4) where they need more discipline and structure, not just constant play time. It just depends on your child's temperament and age, really... a school might be amazing, but that doesn't meant that every single kid is going to thrive there. That's just a determination that each parent has to make for their kids, and it's why paying a visit, doing an interview and having your child do a "play date" at the school is vitally important to the process. FDS simply has a slightly more structured approach, that's all. And don't get the impression that FDS is completely regimented... it's not at all. They have by far the most creative and varied curriculum of any school we visited (and we visited a LOT of them... about 16 total, many of which are considered the top preschools in Los Angeles). One week they had a sea life themed curriculum and the mobile Aquarium of the Pacific truck came for a full day visit. This past week was Summer Olympics week so they learned all about England. Next week will be something completely different. Swimming lessons in the campus private pool are also included as a part of the program and those are done four out of the five days a week during the summer. Any parent out there who has ever researched the cost of swimming lessons in Los Angeles knows how expensive those can be, yet this is simply a part of the FDS tuition. Also included is a daily catered lunch from the Whole Foods Market right across the street with all kinds of delicious and nutritious organic foods... all part of the tuition. Our kids have really thrived in just the few short weeks they have been there and the difference in them is very noticeable. From what we have seen, the administrative staff and teachers led by Mr. Andrew are all really on top of things and have a deep vested interest in the development of each child. They also all seem to really like what they do. We definitely liked our old school, but we really love FDS and couldn't be more happy with it. read more

We are about to complete our 1st year at FDS with our 2 year old. This school is amazing. I have to admit the choice was my wife's and I agreed with her. She is an elementary school teacher.I wouldn't have know about a curriculum based preschool otherwise. The amount my son has learned in this past year is astonishing. Yes, I think he is a genius anyway. The faculty is largely responsible for his advancement and I thank them. My wife and I take some of that credit as well. Art, music, swimming, reading, cultural events, educational presentations. FDS offers all this and so much more. They are a family and treat everyone associated with them as such. This has been a difficult year for my family. Their support has made our struggle a little more manageable. There may be better stepping stones to elementary school, I'm glad this one is ours. Thank you FDS! read more

We have had a wonderful experience with Fountain Day School for both of our kids. We feel that the staff is outstanding and do everything possible to make the school environment very friendly and comfortable. The education level of the school is amazing, it has helped start off both our kids tremendously. We'd like to send a special appreciation to Mr. Andrew who has been a great roll model and loving & caring for our family and kids. I would highly recommend Fountain Day School to any family. read more

Our child has attended Fountain Day School ever since he turned 2 years old. We LOVE this school and our son has grown leaps and bounds through their loving and wonderful care! Besides the amazing swim program they offer (they taught our son to swim immediately) the culture provided for learning is great. Also, all of the staff (including the teachers) are just as wonderful as the founding family that owns the school, and they all provide the most loving environment for our son. He has thrived at this school and we couldn't imagine a better atmosphere for him (or quite frankly any child) during these pre-school years. No wonder this school has been there for over 50 years and we sincerely hope that it makes it another 50 years! read more

Yes, good curriculum but, TERRIBLE, selective and arbitrary rules to enroll a child. Rather than objective criteria of who to accept, the school's "director"/"administrator" or whatever he fancies himself, Andrew, will put you and your child through what feels like an episode of Toddlers and Tiaras. You and your child will be judged on subjective things like,whether the school's director would want to hang out with you or not, and if you and your child will raise the profile of the school. As most 2 year olds, my child was very shy at her first and only "play date" at the school. I couldn't believe the level of scrutiny placed on a baby. The woman working the front desk had the nerve to ask if my child had been socialized or not. Wow, really? My daughter had been in daycare since 5 months of age, so yes, she had been socialized but, she didn't just "turn it on" for strangers so that was viewed pretty negatively - I don't think she passed the FDS appropriateness test that day. I had a chance to speak at length with one of the owners of the school. They seem like a great family and I really enjoyed their swimming program. But, honestly, the school director has all of the say-so on who gets in or not. He's a glorified bouncer and the school's owners put all of their trust in him. I actually didn't find this place very multi cultural. They do however, do many international awareness type events which seemed nice enough. The catered daily lunch from Whole Foods is appealing too. But, again it goes back to the terrible "admissions" process and Andrew the very catty "director" who decides can and can't get in. Get in line and make sure you and Andrew get along and you have some name recognition in LA if you want your child at FDS. I'm so glad we didn't pursue our application here. We found a very non-judgemental, loving pre-school that we pursued instead. Our child is happy and learning so much. So glad we stayed away from FDS. Good luck. read more

We love this school -- and we especially love Mr. Andrew. We pulled our son out of another preschool where he was bullied by another student (a teacher's son) and found ourselves without a preschool, at almost Thanksgiving, in Los Angeles (where preschools are very hard to come by, especially at that time of year). We visited FDS, met Mr. Andrew, toured the school, and crossed our fingers about admission (the students seemed so happy). Mr. Andrew could not have been more professional (about finding the right fit) or more compassionate. Our son went for a play-date at the school and also loved it. We immediately enrolled. We were still nervous about the transition, especially in the middle of the year, but the school (everyone from the owners to Mr. Andrew to the classroom teachers to the students themselves) were immediately welcoming and our son was so happy. He enjoyed the academics, the art, the music, the yoga, the food -- the environment. He similarly enjoyed the FDS summer camp. Mr. Andrew was wonderful from the first day to the last -- and beyond. Mr. Andrew even helped us sort out where we should go upon graduation -- a tough decision! Our only complaints: We wish we would have started, from day one, at FDS. We wish FDS continued all the way through elementary, middle, and high school! And, we wish Mr. Andrew was the director of our son's current school -- he's the best! read more